Gill-drawing machine



Nov; 18, 1952 R. c. BERKER GILL-DRAWING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledJuly 5, 1948 A 7 TO RNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES TENTOFFICE This invention relates to a gill-drawing machine and the like,particularly to the front niprollers thereof.

It is desirable to mount the front nip-rollers in a gill-drawing machineclose to the combs or faller bars in order to control short staple inthe material passing through the combs thereby eliminating subsequentdrawing operations of the material. It is also desirable to mount theniprollers in a manner whereby access to the rollers may be quickly andreadily had. Further, it is desirable to provide a set of nip-rollers asa unit structure which may be comparatively easy to attach to existinggill-drawing machines.

An object of the invention is the provision of a set of nip-rollers andmounting therefor which is so constructed as to secure the advantagesmentioned above.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision for mountingthe upper of the niprollers of a gill-drawing machine in a manner thatthe same may be quickly and easily removed from the lower nip-roller soas to permit access to the lower roller for removing lap therefrom orreplacement,

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, aswill be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevational view of agilldrawing machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken substantially on'line 22 of Figure 1and on an enlarged scale;

and 1 Figure 3 is an end view looking toward the machine in thedirection of the arrows on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the relationshipbetween thefront drawing rollers and the fallers and the drive therefor.

In carrying out the invention I'provide a set of front draft rollerscomprising two spaced lower fluted rollers and a top or pressure roller.The

pressure roller is positioned to engage both fluted rollers so as todistribute the pressure thereof between the two lower rollers and on thebearings thereof. The fluted roller next to the combs is of lessdiameter than the other and substantially smaller than the usual fluteddraft roller -heretofore employed in gill machines. The pressure rolleris so related to the smaller fluted roller that it does not extendmaterially beyond the smaller roller which permits the draft rollers tobe positioned substantially nearer the needles of the combs than whathas heretofore been possible by the construction of draft or nip-rollersemployed in gill machines. In the usual construction the distancebetween the nip of the rollers and the combs is approximately one andseveneights of an inch, while the construction herein disclosed, thedistance between the nip of the rollers and the'needles has beenshortened to approximately seven-eighths of an inch which is ample tocontrol short fibers leaving the combs and thereby eliminatingsubsequent drawing operations of the material.

The top or pressure roller is mounted on a frame or the like which ispivotally secured at the lower end thereof to the bearing blocks inwhich the fluted rollers are journaled. This provides a mounting for thetop roller which may be moved to swing the top roller from the flutedrollers to a position in front thereof so as to permit quick access tothe fluted rollers when necessary. By mounting the supporting frame ofthe top roller on the bearings of the fluted roller, I provide a unitstructure which may be quickly assembled and attached in position orwhich may be substituted as a unit to replace the usual nip-rollers of amachine and thereby enhance the efficiency of the machine. 7

Referring to thedrawings for a more detailed description of theinvention, I0. designates generally a gill-drawingmachine having twosets of faller bars II and 12 (see Figure 2) which are arranged withtheir pins intersecting to adapt them to be traversed in the samedirection during their working stroke and then returned in the oppositedirection at adiiferent level to be again traversed. in the firstdirection. The traversing motion of the faller bars H- and i2 isaccomplished by two pairs of traverse screws l3, l4, l5, and It on oneside of the machine and a similar two pairs of screws on the other sideof the machine with the threads of the screws engaging the ends of thefallers to slide them on horizontal saddles ll, l8, l9, and 20 on oneside of the machine and similar saddles on the other side of themachine. The two screws 13 and I5 operate to traversethe two sets offaller bars during their work stroke. At the end of the work stroke thefaller bars are transferred by means of cams or hammers (not shown) tothe lower and upper screws 14 and 15 to be traversed in the oppositedirection. At the end of the return stroke the faller bars aretransferred back to the screws l3 and [.5 by cams or hammers (not shown)tobeagain traversed in the first direction.

The traverse screws l3, l4, l5, and I6 are suitably journaled in bearingblocks 21 and 22 formed as part of or attached to the side frames 23 and24 of the machine. Motion is transmitted to the several traverse screwsby means of drive shafts 25 adapted to be driven from any suitablesource of power. There are two of these drive shafts, one on each sideof the machine, and each may be a continuation of or attached in anysuitable manner to the lower screws 4. Each shaft 25 carries a spur gear26 engaging with a similar gear 21 on a screw 3 and the gear 21 in turnengages with a similar gear 28 on the adjacent screw l5. The gear 28also engages a similar gear 29 on the uppermost screw 6 whereby the fourscrews on one side of the machine are connected to be driven by a driveshaft 25, while the four screws on the other side of the machine aresimilarly connected and driven by the other drive shaft 25.

All the traverse screws are driven in unison at the same rate of speed,and the screws I3 and I which traverse the fallers II and I2respectively during the work stroke thereof have their thread grooves(not shown) so related that the fallers of one set are advanced therebyin staggered relation with the other set of fallers with the pins ofthefallers penetrating into the material from opposite directions andtraversing through the fibers to straighten and lay them parallel, allin a manner usual in machines of this construction. The material that isbeing worked upon is usually drawn from the comb or faller bars by meansof a pair of front drawing or nip-rollers. A set of these nip-rollersusually consist of two rollers, one mounted above the other whereby whenpressure is applied to the top roller, as is usual, the force is alsoapplied directly upon the bearing of the lower roller.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a set of drawingornip-rollers designated generally 38 which comprises two fluted lowerrollers 3| and 32 and a smooth upper or pressure roller 33 positioned torest upon both rollers 3| and 32. The roller 3| is employed as the driveshaft for the roller 32, and for this purpose it is constructed with areduced spindle 34 which extends axially from one end thereof and areduced spindle 35 which extends axially from the other end of theroller. The spindles 34 and 35 are journaled in cap bearing blocksdesignated '36, which are similar to each other and aresecured to thesides 23 and 24. Each bearing block has a depending arm 31 thereon whichis provided with a longitudinal opening 38. The arm 31 is slidablymounted on a bracket 39 having a foot 40 provided with a threadedopening 4| through whichextends an adjusting screw 42 to bear againstthe lower end of the arm 31. Turning the screw 42 will raise or lowerthe bearing block 36 depending upon the direction of rotation of thescrew 42 whereby alignment of the bearing blocks may be had. A check nut43 locks the screw 42in position. The arm 31 of each bearing ,36 issecured to the sides of the machine by bolts 44 which extend through thesides, the bracket, and opening .38. A nut 45 engages the bolt to.secure the parts together in a usual manner. The roller 32 is similarlyconstructed with reduced spindles 46 and 41 which extend axially fromthe ends and are journaled in the bearing blocks 36.

The spindle 35 carries a gear wheel 50 to be driven through-any suitablepower source. The spindle 34 carries a spur gear 5| which engages anintermediate spur gear 52 suitably mounted on .a stud 53 secured in abearing block 36. The

intermediate gear 52 in turn engages a spur gear 54 on the spindle 46whereby connecting rollers 3| and 32 to rotate in the same direction.The roller 3| is of a smaller diameter than the roller 32 and,accordingly, gears 5| and 54 are chosen such that the surface speed ofthe rollers 3| and 32 will be equal to each other.

The top roller 33 is constructed with reduced spindles 55 which extendaxially from the ends thereof which are journaled in bearing blocks 56each of a similar construction and having a projection 51 extendinglaterally of the opening therein. These blocks 56 are mounted on a framedesignated generally 58, which comprises spaced arms 59 which are tiedat the upper end thereof by a cross brace 60. Each arm is of a similarconstruction and has a right angularly extending portion 6| at the upperend thereof which, extends inwardly towards the faller bars and isprovided with an opening 62. The lower portion 63 of the arm-extendsinwardly in an inverted goose-neck formation (see Figure 2), the endextremity of which has a bearing opening 64. Each arm is also providedwith a recess 65 that extends lengthwise of the arm on the inner sidethereof. An elongated opening 66 extends through the rear wall of therecess 65 from the opposite side of the arm, substantially the entirelength .of the recess 65. The frame 58 is attached to the machine bypivotally mounting-each arm on the bearing blocks 36 by means of studpins 61 which extend inwardly from the bearings 36 ata position beneaththe rollers 3| and 32. Thus the frame is mounted on the bearing blocks36 in a manner that the frame may be swung about its mounting, asindicated in dot-an dash line 68 (see Figure 2) so as to swing the toproller 33 away from the rollers 3| and 32 whereby access to these lowernip rollers may be had when desired.

In order to provide a control pressure of the nip of the rollers on thematerial passing through the rollers, the bearing blocks 56 are slidablymounted on the arms 59. Each bearing block 56 is constructed similar tothe other and is mounted in a like manner on one of the arms 59 andextends into the recess 65 in the arm in sliding relation with the wallsthereof with the projection 51 passing through the opening 65 to projecta slight distance beyond the arm. A screw bolt 69 threadedly engages theprojection 51 to slidably secure the bearing 56 to the arm. A washer 16or the like is interposed between the head of the bolt and theprojection, as is usual in connections of this character. A threadedmember 1| having a handle 12 secured or otherwise provided at the upperend thereof passes loosely through the opening 62 in the portion 6|,Vandthe end thereof rests on they bearing block 56. A nut or abutment 13 inthe form of a rectangular block has a threaded opening 61 and isslidably mountedron the walls of the recess 65. The .member 1|threadedly extends through the opening 6?. Rotating the member 1| willslidably move the abutment 13 to or from the block 56 depending upon thedirection of rotation of 1|. A compression spring 14 encircles themember 7| and has the lower end resting against the abutment 13 and the.upperend against the portion 6|. Thus the member 1| is yieldinglyforced into engagement with the bearing 56 to apply a pressure thereto.The pressure applied is controlled by rotating the member 1] in theproper direction. A locking member 15 encircles member 1| and has adepending portion 16 which extends "into engagement with the end 6! Aset screw or the like I! detachably secures member'll to member 15whereby to prevent accidental free turning thereof.

The material being acted upon and passing through the nip-rollers may becollected in any suitable manner. In the present instanceI have shown aso-called coiler can device designated generally 18 having a suitableguide 19 through which the material is guided between rollers 86 and 88to pass therefrom into a can 81. The can 8| rests upon a revolvingplatform 82 to be engaged thereby to rotate the same. The platform maybe rotated in any suitable manner and is herein shown as being providedwith a gear wheel 83 which is driven by means of a driving pinion 84which may be rotated from any suitable source of power.

It now will be apparent that I have disclosed a nip-roller constructionand mounting therefor which adapts the rollers to be positioned closerto the needles of the faller bars and wherein the top roller 33 may beeasily removed from engagement with the rollers 31 and 32 by merelyrotating the handle E2 to relieve the pressure thereon, and thereafterthe frame 58 may be swung out of position to permit access to therollers 3! and 32. It will also be apparent that this front set of rollsand its supporting structure is also adapted to be employed as a unitwhich may be easily attached to a gill-machine for replacing the usualnip-rollers thereof.

I have shown by way of example a construction of nip-rollers wherein thepressure roller directly contacts the fluted rollers. However, theinvention also contemplates the use of an apron placed about thepressure roller as is usual in certain types of gill-machines.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the type specified, a set of nip-rollers comprising apair of rotatably mounted fluted rollers, a top roller engaging both ofsaid fluted rollers providing a bite between said top roller and each ofsaid fluted rollers, a frame pivotally mounted on said machine, bearingsslidably mounted on said frame, said top roller being journaled in saidbearings, resilient means carried by said frame for applying a pressureon said bearings to yieldably move said top roller into engagement Withsaid fluted rollers, said frame being movable to swing said top rollerto and away from said fluted rollers.

2. In a gill-drawing machine, a plurality of faller bars, a set ofnip-rollers for drawing the material from the faller bars comprising apair of spaced rotatably mounted fluted rollers, a top roller engagingboth of said fluted rollers providing a bite between said top roller andeach of said fluted rollers, a frame, means for rotatably mounting saidtop roller on said frame and means for pivotally mounting said frame onsaid machine for movement thereof for swinging said top roller to andaway from said fluted rollers to permit access to said fluted rollers.

3. In a gill-drawing machine, a plurality of faller bars, a set ofnip-rollers for drawing the material from the faller bars comprising apair of spaced rotatably mounted fluted rollers, a top roller engagingboth of said fluted rollers providing a bite between said top roller andeach of said fluted rollers, a generally vertical frame pivotallymounted on said machine, spaced bearings carried by said frame, said toproller being journaled in said bearings and yieldable means carried bysaid frame for applying a yielding 6 pressure to said top roller, saidframe being movable about its pivot to move said top roller away fromthe said fluted rollers to a-position sufiiciently spaced from saidfluted rollersto permit access thereto.

4. In a gill-drawing machine, aplurality of faller bars, a set ofnip-rollers for drawing the material from the taller bars comprising apair of spaced rotatably mounted fluted rollers, a top roller engagingboth of said fluted rollers providing a bite between said top roller andeach of said fluted rollers, a frame pivotally mounted on said machine,spaced bearings slidably carried by said frame, said top roller beingjournaled in said bearings, and means including a compression spring forapplying a pressure to said top roller, said frame being movable to movesaid top roller to and away from said fluted rollers for access thereto.

5. In a gill-drawing machine, upper and lower nip-rollers, means formounting said upper roller comprising a generally vertical frame pivotedat the lower end portion thereof on said machine, spaced bearingsslidably carried on said frame, said upper roller being journaled insaid bearings, spaced movable abutments carried by said frame and havinga threaded opening therein, a threaded member extending through eachabutment and into engagement with one of said bearings and a compressionspring engaging each of said abutments for applying a pressure throughsaid threaded members and said bearings to said top roller.

6. A unit nip-roller assembly for a gill-drawing machine comprising twolower fluted rollers, a bearing block at each end of said rollers, saidrollers being journaled in said bearing blocks, means for detachablysecuring said bearing blocks to the sides of the machine, a framepivotally mounted on said bearing blocks and a top roller journaled insaid frame and movable in and out of engagement with said flutedrollers.

7. A unit nip-roller assembly for a gill-drawing machine comprising twolower fluted rollers, a bearing block at each end of said rollers, meansfor detachably securing said bearing blocks to the sides of the machine,said rollers being journaled in said bearing blocks, a generallyvertical frame pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof on saidbearing blocks for swinging movement relative thereto, spaced bearingsslidably carried by said frame, a top roller journaled in said bearingsand movable in and out of engagement with said fluted rollers.

8. In a machine of the type specified, a set of nip-rollers comprising apair of rotatably mounted lower rollers and an upper roller for applyinga pressure on material passing over said lower rollers, a framepivotally mounted on said machine at a location beneath said lowerrollers, means for rotatably and slidably mounting said upper roller onsaid frame, and resilient means carried wholly on said frame forapplying a pressure on said upper roller to yieldably move the same intoengagement with said lower rollers, said frame being movable to swingsaid upper roller to and away from said lower rollers.

9. In a gill-drawing machine, a set of niprollers, comprising a pair ofrotatably mounted lower rollers and an upper roller for applying apressure on material passing over said lower rollers, a frame pivotallymounted on said machine at a location beneath said lower rollers, meansfor rotatably and slidably mounting said upper roller on said frame, andadjustable 8 summer means earned whelly by said fram Number :Name "Datefor applying a pressure 1,011 said :upper roller :t ;1,-494,833 GriveliMay 20, 71924 yieldably :move :the same :into engagement with =2;072,,452 Hughes Mar. 2, 1937 said. lower :rollers, :Sfiid frame beingmovable {00 2,131,172 Fraser Sept. 2'7, 1938 fgivggjglfirlslpper rollerto and away "116mm send 5 FOREIGN PATENTS A V CC BERKER Number CountryDate 1,010 Great Britain of 1881 REFERENCES .GITED 22,605 Great Britainof 1896 The following references Jame ofmeemzd inmhe 10 Great 1930meloftms patent: 499;086 GneatBrltam Jan. '18, 1939 115,351 Germany q-Nov. 29, 1900 STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 3,113,107 Qrmxmdmydet 91.v-wAp -fi g 119.06

